Import Geospatial Data from Shapefile

Various windows in IMSMA allow you to import geospatial data from external source files. These external source files can be either Excel spreadsheets (with a .xls or .xlsx file extension), or shapefiles (with a .shp file extension).

To import geospatial data:

1. Click the button.

The Open window displays.

2. From the Open window:
1. Navigate to the directory where the file that you would like to import is located.
2. Select the file name.
3. Click the Open button.

The geospatial data from the spreadsheet is appended to any existing data in the Points or Polygons table.

You must follow certain business rules to create and format the source file from which you wish to import data: For an Excel spreadsheet, follow the Excel Import Business Rules. For a shapefile, follow the Shapefile Import Business Rules.

Shapefile Import Business Rules

To import geospatial data from a shapefile, the file must be created according to the following business rules:

1. If the selected coordinate reference system at the Point and Polygon/Polyline List window is different from the coordinate reference system specified in the .prj file, the coordinate data will be re-projected to the selected coordinate system specified at the Point and Polygon/Polyline List window.
2. If a PointID value is not provided in the shapefile, each coordinate data will be automatically assigned a unique PointID value.
3. If a PointID is provided in the shapefile, it must be unique across all coordinate data listed in the Points table and in the Polygon/Polyline Points table on the Point and Polygon/Polyline List window.
4. If the coordinate data is a point on a polygon/polyline, a unique PolyID value must be provided.
5. The PolyID value must be unique across all polygons/polylines data listed in the Points table and Polygon/Polyline Points table on the Point and Polygon/Polyline List window.